Charles Spence, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford, teamed up with plant-based food company Strong Roots to create a patch that, when scratched, produces a smell similar to that of cooked bacon. The idea behind this strange invention is that the human mind is connected to our senses of taste and smell, and that certain smells can significantly reduce food cravings.
If you believe him, people will walk around smelling like meat in order to avoid eating meat. Spence’s creation is supposed to be worn like a nicotine patch, but instead of slowly releasing nicotine into the wearer’s body, it is supposed to be scratched for an instant olfactory dose of bacon. I admit I am biased, but like millions of others, if I smell bacon, am induced to go eat some, not abstain.